Apparatus for assembly of electron discharge devices



E. F. SMART Nov. 27,1962

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Filed Dec. 3, 1959 m I l m F o a E w ,m w o o o 4 a o w 4 o a w 5 M a. a 3 I m o e 3. 2

0 2 .wlcvii INVENTOR Ernest E Smart 2:, 4 a ATTORNEY S v E S S E N W W E.F.SMART Nov. 27, 1962 APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLY OF ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 3, 1959 E. F. SMART Nov. 27, 1962 APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLY OF ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 3, 1959 United States Patent Ofiice 3, G5,52l Patented Nov. 27, 1962 3 065 521 APPARATUS FOR A SSFJMBLY F ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICES Ernest F. Smart, Bath, N.Y., assignor to Westinghouse This invention relates to electron discharge device assembly aids and more particularly to a mounting jig for facilitating the assembly of an electron tube mount.

Present day vacuum tubes generally comprise a plurality of small and delicate electrode members mounted between two spaced insulator spacer plates. Since the components now utilized in receiving tubes are so delicate and the spacing between the members is of such a critical nature, it is desirable to assemble them with a minimum number of operations and particularly a minimum amount of manual manipulation of the electrode members. The tube industry has attempted from time to time to either partially or wholly mechanize the assembly of receiving tubes but as a rule, these attempts have been unsuccessful due to a number of reasons.

One assembly aid which has been adopted by the tube industry is the utilization of a jig structure on which the tube electrode members are positioned normally by hand and the electrode members are retained in position by various means until a complete cage structure is assembled.

One particular method of assembly utilizing a jig member is described in copending application Serial No. 788,606 entitled, Apparatus and Method of Assembly for Electron Discharge Devices by C. F. [Miller et al. and assigned to the same assignee. The jig fixture described in this copending application does not provide the desired fiexibility and the accurate alignment for holding the electrode members perpendicular to the first or bottom spacer member after insertion into the jig fixture. The alignment problem made it difiicult to assemble the second or top mica onto the electron tube cage. There were also other undesirable features found in the jig fixture described in the copending application.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for assembly tube components.

It is another object to provide an improved mounting jig assembly for assemblying tube components.

It is another object to provide an improved mounting jig for automatically aligning the electrode assembly and positioning the electrodes perpendicular to the surface of the first or bottom insulating spacer member.

It is another object to provide a jig assembly having an external square configuration so as to permit the positive positioning of the jig assembly with respect to other assembly aids for insertion of electrodes into the jig assembly.

It is another object to provide positioning and alignment holes within the jig fixture which are rectangular in cross section to substantially reduce clogging of the apertures. It is another object to provide an improved jig fixture including a split construction and utilizing a template member which may be mounted by positioning it between the two. split sections.

It is another object to provide a jig fixture that provides means of removing dust from alignment openings.

It is another object to provide a jig fixture that does not require precision drilled holes to hold electrodes.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved design in which a changeover to another tube type does not require the substitution of an entire new jig structure but merely the insertion of a different template between the split jig fixture. 7

It is another object to provide a fixture comprised of three parts such that the elements may be mounted on the partially set-up jig fixture and then tightened down so that it conforms with the tube elements to be assembled on the jig fixture.

These and other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in accordance with the accompanying drawing, throughout which like reference characters indicate like parts, which drawing forms a part of this application and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of an apparatus suitable for assembly of electrodes within a cage structure embodying a jig assembly in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with the jig assembly located in the load position;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a jig assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a portion of the electrodes of the electron discharge device;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the assembled jig fixture shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the assembled jig fixture shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the jig fixture shown in FIG. 3; and,

FIG. 7 is a perspective View of a portion of an electron tube cage assembled by my invention; and,

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the positioning of the components of the electron tube cage with respect to the template member of the jig fixture.

Referring in detail to FIGS. 1 and 2 for a general discussion of the operation of the cage assembly apparatus, there is shown a base block 14) on which the jig assembly 12 is mounted. A first grid electrode loading mechanism 14 and a second grid electrode loading mechanism 16 and a jig slide stop assembly 18 are also mounted on the base block 10. The jig assembly 12 consists of a base member 20 mounted on the base plate 10 and having bearing member 22 rotatably mounted to the base member 20. An arm 24 has one end attached to the bearing member 22 by pin 23 to provide a hinge or swivel attachment. The other end of the arm 24 is secured to the bottom portion of the zig fixture 26. This type of mounting permits the jig fixtures 26 to be rotated about its vertical axis by means of rotatable member 22 and also permits swivel movement of the jig fixture 26 by means of the swivel connection of arm 24 to the member 22. The hinge connection of the arm 24 to the bearing member 22 permits the jig fixture 26 to be positioned in a horizontal or vertical position. Certain loading operations may be performed by hand while the jig fixture 26 is in the vertical position and then the jig fixture 26 may be rotated to the horizontal position Where certain other loading operations may be performed.

Positioned adjacent to the jig assembly 12 and also fastened to the base plate 10 is the jig fixture slide stop assembly 18. The jig slide stop assembly 18 consists of a bar 36 mounted to the base 10 which provides a horizontal sliding surface for the jig fixture 26 when it is positioned in the horizontal position and locates the jig fixture in the vertical direction. Also positioned on the slide bar 30 are two jig slide stops 32 and 34. The jig slide stop 32 prevents movement of the jig assembly in one direction along the slide bar 30 and positions the jig fixture 26 in the horizontal direction with respect to the loading assembly '14. The jig slide stop 34 performs a similar function with respect to the loading assembly 16. The vertically orientated jig stop surfaces on stops 32 and 34 and the horizontal slide bar 18 conforms to the outer rectangular surface of the jig fixture 26.

Before describing the structure of jig fixture 26, it is believed advantageous to first describe an electron tube cage which may be assembled on the jig fixture. In FIG. 7, there is shown a portion of an electron tube cage. This specific cage is the tube type AU6. Referring in detail to FIG. 7, there is shown an electron tube cage consisting of a first or bottom insulating spacer plate 68 of a suitable material such as mica positioned on one end of the electrode assembly and a second spacer plate (not shown) of similar configuration on the opposite end of the electrode assembly. A sleeve-type cathode 86 is positioned within the cage assembly and is located in a centrally located aperture 88 in the spacer plate 68. Surrounding the cathode 86 is a first grid electrode 163 including a plurality of grid lateral members 99 and a first grid support rod 100 of a first length and a second grid support rod 182 of a shorter length than said first length. Apertures :105 and 106 are provided on each side of the cathode aperture 88 for the side rods 180 and 102 respectively. The side rod member 100 of the grid 193 extends through the spacer member 68 for a greater distance than the side rod 162 to provide ease for connecting a lead-in wire to the grid electrode 108.

Surrounding the first grid electrode 103, there is a second grid electrode 111 also having side rods .112 and 1 14 of similar diameter to that of the side rods of the first grid electrode 103 and positioned within apertures 116 and 118 respectively in the spacer plate 68. .A plurality of grid laterals 1 13 are supported by the side rods 1'12 and 114. Again the side rod member 1 14 of the grid electrode 111 is longer than the side rod member 112 so as to provide ease of connecting a lead-in wire to'the grid electrode 111. A third grid electrode 121 surrounds the second grid electrode 113 and has side rod support members 123 and 125 of slightly larger diameter than the side rods of the grid electrodes 183 and 111. The side rods 123' and 1125 are located respectively in the apertures i127 and 129 in the spacer plate 68. The apertures 127 and 129 are of a larger diameter than the other apertures provided for the side rods of the other grids to accommodate the side rods 123 and 125. The side rods 123 and 1125 are of equal length. A plurality of lateral wires 136. are supported on the side rods 123 and 125. An anode 134 is next positioned exterior to the third grid electrode 123 and is provided with ears (not shown) on the end of each of the anode portions which are inserted through openings 1-35 provided in the spacer plate 68 and then bent or deformed so as to lock the assembly together. Surrounding the anode 134 and the grid assembly is a shielding member 137 which is also secured to the spacer plate 68 by ears or tabs i169 inserted through apertures 141 in the spacer plate 68 and then deformed to lock the assembly together.

Referring in detail FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, there is shown the detail structure of the jig fixture 26. The jig fixture 26 consists of two half pieces or members 60 and 62 and a template member 64 positioned between their facing surfaces. The jig fixture 26 is in effect split along a vertical plane centrally located with respect to a horizontal loading surface. The two half members 60 and 62 are positioned and located with respect to each other by means of dowel pins and 177 projecting from the facing surface of member 60 and engaging opening 159 and @161 respectively in member 62. The two members 60 and 62 are held together by a screw member 184 which has its head seated in the member 60 and screws into the threaded opening 176 in the facing surface of the member 62.

The facing surface ofthe member 62 has a recessed surface portion 133 extending from the horizontal loading surface to a shoulder 180. The shoulder 180 IS parallel to the horizontal loading surface and the bottom edge of the template 64 rests on the shoulder 180'. The member 60 has a corresponding recessed surface and shoulder. The depth of the recess is substantially one half the thickness of the template '64. A groove 136 is provided in the facing surface of the member 62 parallel to and near the horizontal loading surface. The groove 136 communicates with the upper edge of the template 64 directly or by means of extension grooves 77 provided in the surface of the template 64- facing the member 62. This permits dust particles to fall into the groove 136, The grooves 77 also reduce the area against which grid legs bottom and eliminates tendency of dust to impact at this point. A vertical groove 91 is centrally located in the facing surface of member 62 and extendsfrom the horizontal loading surface to the opening 156. The groove 91 allows dust particles to fall from the groove 136. A corresponding groove 93 is provided in the facing surface of the member 60. The groove 93 also permits the cathode tab 92 to be positioned below the spacer plate 68 without deforming the tab. The passageway formed by the grooves 91 .and 93 communicates with downwardly extending grooves 95 and 97 provided in the facing surface of member 60. The grooves 95 and 97 in turn communicate with passageways formed by vertical grooves 98 and 101 in the facing surface of member 62 and corresponding grooves in the facing surfaces of member 60. These passageways communicate with the lower surface of the jig fixture 26 and permit dust particles to fall through from the top surface of the jig 26.

Two vertical channels 87 and 89 are provided in the facing surface of the member 62. The channels 87 and 89 are positioned on opposite sides of the groove 91 and extend from the horizontal loading surface to below the shoulder 180. Similar channels are provided in the half member 60. The grooves 87 and 89 permit the larger diameter side rod of grid 121to enter between the facing surfaces of members 60 and 62.

The horizontal loading surface of the assembled jig fixture 26 includes a recessed portion being defined by two raised side wall members 67 and 69 and a bottom seating surface 66 for the bottom or first spacer plate 68. The bottom surface 66 of the recessed portion is provided with two spaced recessed groove portions 76 and 78 which are parallel to the side members 67 and 69 and which allow the insertion of the tabs of the anode 133 and the shield 137 through the bottom spacer plate 68 without deforming the tabs. The spacer plate 68 is seated and positioned in the recess portion by having the serrated edge abut against the side walls 67 and 69, or positioning notches 70 and 72 may be provided in the side walls 67 and 69 as indicated. A groove 71 is provided in the bottom surface 66 adjacent the side wall 67 and a groove 73 is provided adjacent side wall 69 to permit removal of any mica dust from spacer plate 68 that might accumulate along the side walls 67 and 69. This dust may be removed by an air blast or any other suitable means. I

A centrally located groove 75 is provided in the bottom surface .66 by the spacing between the facing surfaces of the two half members 60 and 62. The groove 75 is parallel to the side wall members '67 and 69. Positioned within this centrally located recess portion 75 is the template member 64. The bottom edge of the template member 64 rests on the shoulder 180 on member 62 and the corresponding shoulder in member 60. The surface of the recessed portion 133 of member 62 and corresponding surface on member 60 hold the template 64 in position. Tightening screws 65 in member 60 also assist in retaining the template 64 in position. The template 64 is provided with stop portions 150 and 151 on its upper edge at the base of the mandrel 84 and of equal height on which the cathode sleeve rests and is positioned with respect to the spacer plate 68. A slot 152 is provided in the upper edge of the template 64 adjacent the stop 150 of a width slightly greater .()O1 to .0015 inch) than the diameter of grid side rod 100. The sides of the notch 152 are perpendicular to the loading surface of the jig 26 and are provided with a tapered opening. The other side rod 102 rests on a stop portion 153 positioned adjacent the stop 151. A notch 154 is provided adjacent stop 153 for receiving the longer support rod 114 of grid 111. The other side rod 112 rests on a stop portion 155 adjacent the notch 152. The grid 121 has its side rod 123 resting in a notch 156 adjacent the stop 155. The other side rod 125 rests in a stop 157 adjacent notch 154. The template member 64 consists of a centrally located mandrel member 84 extending above the seat surface 66 and the cathode sleeve 86 is threaded over the mandrel member 84. The mandrel 84 is provided with a cathode tab groove 90.

In FIGS. 1 and 12, there are shown loading assemblies 14 and 16 for loading the first and second grids. It is obvious that as many loading assemblies may be used as desired. The spacer plate 68 may be positioned on the jig assembly 26 as illustrated in FIG. 6 by hand while the jig is in a vertical position. The cathode 86 may also be threaded over the mandrel 84 and pushed into position as illustrated in FIG. 8. This may also be done by hand while the jig is in a vertical position. The first loading mechanism 14 which loads the first grid 103 into the jig assembly 26 consists of a slide block assembly 40 with a slide or pusher assembly 42 mounted slidably within the block member 40. The slide pusher .assembly 42 is provided with a cradle 44 which includes positioning and locating means into which the grid electrode 103 is top loaded. The jig 26 is rotated to a horizontal position as shown in FIG. 2 and held against stop 32. The cradle 44 carries the grid electrode 103 forward in response to movement of the slide pusher assembly 42 by means of the knob 46 to mount the electrode 103 within the cage assembly and secured to the fixture 26. This loading operation is illustrated in FIG. 2. The grid is located and positioned as illustrated in FIG. 8.

The second loading assembly 16 which is utilized to load a second grid 111 onto the jig assembly 26 also consists of a sliding block assembly 50. A slide pusher assembly 52 is slidably mounted within said slide block assembly 50. The pusher assembly 52 also includes a cradle 54 which includes a positioning and guiding means into which the grid electrode 111 is loaded. The jog is moved to a second horizontal portion against stop 34 and the second grid 111 is pushed into position as illustrated in FIG. 8.

The third grid 121 may then be loaded by similar load ing means. The jig 26 may then be rotated to a vertical position where the anode 134 and the shield 137 are mounted. If desired, the shields and anodes may be mounted by loading assemblies. A second spacer plate 68 is then provided on the top end of the electron tube cage. The cage may then be removed and the tabs on the anode and shield deformed to lock the cage together. The grooves 80 and 82 positioned in the top surface illustrate a method of deforming the tabs on the anode and shield after insertion of the tabs through the bottom spacer plate 68. Various shapes of inserts may be provided in the fixture to permit various deformations of tabs.

While the present invention has been shown in one form only, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. A jig adapted to aid in the assembly of electron tube parts including at least one insulating spacer plate having a plurality of apertures therein, a tubular cathode sleeve and a grid electrode, said grid electrode having support members extending beyond the active portion of said grid electrode, said jig comprising a first member having a first and a second surface and a second member having a first and a second surface, means for supporting said first and second members in a position such that said first surfaces are facing one another and said second surfaces lie in the same plane to provide a surface adapted to support and position said insulating plate therein, a template member positioned between a portion of said first surfaces, said template member including a mandrel member which extends above the plane of said second surfaces and onto which said cathode sleeve is positioned, said template provided with slots and stop portions recessed below the plane of said second surfaces for locating and positioning said cathode and said grid electrode with respect to said spacer plate, the spacing between said first surfaces adjacent said second surfaces being such as to permit the support members of said grid electrode to enter and thereby support said grid electrode in a. first plane perpendicular to said second surfaces, the dimension of said slots provided within said template such as to permit entry of said grid support members and thereby retain said grid member in a second plane perpendicular to said second surfaces and said first plane, the stop and slot portions positioned with respect to said spacer plate so as to position said grid electrode with respect to said spacer plate.

2. A jig adapted to aid in the assembly of electron tube parts including at least one insulating spacer plate having a plurality of apertures therein, a tubular cathode sleeve and a grid electrode provided with side rod support members, said jig comprising a first member having a first and second surface and a second member having first and second surfaces, means for supporting said first and second members in a position such that said first surfaces are facing one another and said second surfaces lie in the same plane to provide a surface adapted to support and position said insulating spacer plate, a template member positioned between a portion of said first surfaces, said template including a mandrel which extends above the plane of said second surfaces and onto which said cathode sleeve is positioned, said template provided with slots and stop portions recessed below the plane of said second surfaces and the spacing between said first surfaces adjacent said second surfaces being such as to receive the side rod members of said grid electrode, said template including at least one slot for receiving one of said side rod support members of said grid electrode for locating and positioning said grid electrode perpendicular to the surface of said insulating spacer plate, groove portions provided on said first surfaces communicating with regions adjacent said slots and stop portions of said template to permit removal of foreign particles.

3. A jig adapted to aid in the assembly of electron tube parts including at least one insulating spacer plate having a plurality of apertures therein, a tubular cathode sleeve and a tubular grid electrode of larger diameter than said cathode and also provided with side rod support members, said jig comprising a first member having a first and second surface and a second member having first and second surfaces, means for supporting said first and second members in a position such that said first surfaces are facing one another, and said second surfaces trode and support them in a first plane perpendicular to' said second surfaces, said template including at least one slot for-receiving one of said side rod support. members of said grid electrode for locating and positioning said grid electrode in a second plane perpendicular to said second surfaces and said first plane, groove portions provided on said first surfaces communicating with regions adjacent said slots and stop portions of said template to permit foreign particles from said template region to fall from said jig.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,919,128 Blattel et al. Dec. 29, 1959 

